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explore other alternatives for pH control. Achievement of nitrification in the aeration basin may further ameliorate activated sludge floc properties. The effect of nitrification on activated sludge properties require further exploration. Conclusions2 Laboratory and field studies were conducted to evaluate the conditioning options for the dewatering of ATAD biosolids. The objective of this study was to investigate opportunities to reduce chemical conditioning costs. Studies were conducted using cationic polymer and a bination of inorganic conditioners (ferric chloride or alum)and cationic polymer. This study indicated that inorganic conditioners such as ferric chloride and alum were very effective in reducing conditioning chemical requirements, thereby reducing operation costs, for ATADs. The inorganic conditioners were effective in removing anionic biocolloids. Removal of the anionic biocolloids occurred prior to achieving charge neutralization. The removal of these anionic biocolloids may be through ferric hydroxy mineral associated precipitation as observed in the coagulation study. The conditioning mechanisms associated with cationic polymer is through charge neutralization. Precoagulation of biosolids with inorganic conditioners will reduce the negative charges in solution, thereby eliminating some of the cationic polymer demand. The different mechanisms lead to different conditioning requirements. Ferric chloride and alum were more effective in removing larger sized protein and polysaccharide molecules (greater than 30K). The inorganic coagulants were also more effective then the biopolymer and COD release was greater. The use of inorganic chemical coagulants should be considered when large release of protein, polysaccharide and COD occur during the digestion process. A bination of mesophilic aeration followed by conditioning with alum and cationic polymer flocculant greatly reduced conditioning chemical costs at College Station. The costs were similar to or lower than that required for mesophilic anaerobic digestion. Filtrate recycle COD was much reduced and inplant foaming at College Station was largely eliminated by employing a bination of mesophilic aeration and using alum.